Notable Healthcare Innovations Revealed at CES 2018

“We stand for innovators and the promise of technology,” says the homepage of the Consumer Technology Association.

A champion for global technological innovation, the CTA advocates for entrepreneurs, technologists, and innovators who shape the future of the consumer technology industry. Whether it’s in the automotive or healthcare sector, the CTA provides a forum that unites leaders to network and collaborate on technologies to propel our society forward.

Once a year, the CTA hosts the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. The show features an abundance of hands-on experiences, sneak peaks of new technologies, and announcements that have far-reaching impacts. Although the event has been held annually since 1967, it’s only recently drawn a lot of attention and hype—you can thank the 21st-century digital revolution for that! Today, brands that attend CES receive significant exposure for their products through media outlets such as TechCrunch, VentureBeat, Business Insider, and more.

As my interest in technology has grown—particularly as it relates to the healthcare landscape—my fascination with CTA and CES has increased. CES is the only venue where the entire digital health ecosystem comes together in one place. Although I missed this year’s event, I kept my eyes peeled on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Google News feeds for groundbreaking updates in healthcare technology. Below are a few of my favorite highlights.

Curing Cancer… with Sound?

Bestselling writer, attorney, politician, and activist John Grisham spoke about the growing public interest in his recent ebook, “The Tumor.” The story describes how a new medical technology called focused ultrasound cures a father’s medical disorder with sound. Though the book is fictitious, the treatment is not.

Now, Grisham and his medical consultant for the book, Dr. Neal Kassell, founder and chairman of the Focused Ultrasound Foundation and a former neurosurgeon, are working together to raise awareness about this new technology. Their goal is to lower the cost of the treatment to make it more accessible.

What is “The Invisible Doctor”?

Representatives from Google’s Verily, United Healthcare, Doctor on Demand, Samsung, and the Institute for the Future spoke at a panel about “The Invisible Doctor.” What does it mean? In today’s data-driven age, the intersection of tech and healthcare has made it easier than ever before for patients to get treatment—without actually seeing a doctor. An example of this is telehealth, where patients remotely connect with their healthcare provider without leaving their home. You can view the entirety of the panel, along with its transcript, on CNET’s website here.

Healthcare at Home

With today’s advancements in technology that allow many to work from anywhere, why can’t the same practice be applied to healthcare? With technologies such as TytoCare, you can have doctor’s appointments from anywhere as well. Owned by parent company Walgreens Boots Alliance, TytoCare’s TytoHome allows consumers to perform a basic medical exam at home, then connect with their physician through video on their own time.

News from this year’s CES is inspiring. I’m looking forward to seeing the impact these technological innovations make in 2018 and beyond.